This is a projected series of lectures on the history of Theology that I have been working on since College when I spent several years at U.C. Berkeley studying World History, Church History, Historical Theology, and Political Philosophy. During that time, I was able to map out a series of lessons on the subject of Historical Theology. The series is called The Triumph of Truth in the History of Christian Thought. There are 7 sections to the work: I. The Theology of the Early Church. II. The Theology of the Middle Ages. III. The Theology of the Reformation. IV. The Theology of the Puritan Age. V. The Theology of the Missionary Age. VI. The Theology of the Modern Church. VII. The Triumph of Reformed Theology against the Modern Heretics and Deviant Forms of Christianity. It is a comprehensive survey of the great theologians of the Church and the formulation of Christian doctrine throughout church history. I have taken many insights from such works as Philip Schaff – History of the Christian Church; Louis Berkhof – The History of Christian Doctrines; Reinhold Seeburg – History of Doctrines; James Orr – The Progress of Dogma; William Cunningham – Historical Theology; Justo Gonzalez – History of Christian Thought; Alister McGrath – Historical Theology; Steve Lawson – Pillars of Grace; Tony Lane – A Concise History of Christian Thought; and many more.
The highlights of this series in Historical Theology include the theology of Athanasius, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, the Reformed Confessions, the Westminster Standards, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, and Francis Turretin. While there are a great many things to learn from Evangelical and Reformed theologians after the Puritans and the Reformed Scholastics, (including Hodge, Bavinck, Kuyper, Berkhof, Murray, Van Til, Frame, Beeke and others) the Puritans and the Reformed Scholastics are truly the apex of sound Biblical doctrine. And it seems to me that everything after them is downhill and full of aberrations and doctrinal errors, including much of Evangelical and Reformed theology today. For a greater understanding of the study of Theology, I have an entirely separate series of lectures on The Theology of Westminster Confession of Faith as well as a series of lessons on how to study the best of Systematic Theology. For that you can refer to the web page on The Study of Theology.
I. THE THEOLOGY OF THE EARLY CHURCH
- The Subject and Task of Historical Theology
- The Method and Divisions of Historical Theology
- The Development and Purpose of Historical Theology
- An Historical and Theological Introduction to the Early Church
- The Canon of Scripture and the Canon of Christian Truth
- Rules of Faith and Practice in the Early Church: The Apostle’s Creed and the Didache
- The Apostolic Fathers 1: The Men – Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, Papias, Barnabas, and Hermas (80-150)
- The Apostolic Fathers 2: Their Doctrine
- Theological Heresies of the Early Church 1: Gnosticism, Ebionitism, Marcionism, Manichaeism
- Theological Heresies of the Early Church 2: Asceticism and Montanism
- Theological Issues in the Early Church 1: Revelation, Scripture and the Canon
- Theological Issues in the Early Church 2: The Doctrine of Salvation
- Theological Issues in the Early Church 3: The Church and the Novatian Controversy
- The Theology of Martyrdom and Suffering Persecution in the Early Church
- The Apologists 1: Justin Martyr and His Writings (100-165)
- The Apologists 2: Justin Martyr and His Theology
- The Apologists 3: The Minor Apologists – Athenagoras, Tatian, Theophilus, Minucius Felix
- The Apologists 4: The Minor Apologists – Their Theology and Distinctives
- The Anti-Gnostic Fathers 1: The Life and Theology of Irenaeus (130-202)
- The Anti-Gnostic Fathers 2: The Life and Theology of Tertullian (155-240)
- The Anti-Gnostic Fathers 3: The Life and Theology of Hippolytus (170-235)
- The Alexandrian Fathers 1: The Life and Theology of Clement (150-215)
- The Alexandrian Fathers 2: The Life and Theology of Origen (184-253)
- The Life and Theology of Gregory Thaumaturgus (210-275)
- The Distinctives of Eastern and Western Schools of Thought
- The Ante-Nicene Western Fathers 1: The Life and Theology of Cyprian (200-258)
- The Ante-Nicene Western Fathers 2: The Life and Theology of Novatian (200-258)
- The Ante-Nicene Western Fathers 3: The Life and Theology of Lactantius (250-325)
- The Ante-Nicene Western Fathers 4: The Life and Theology of Eusebius 1 (260-340)
- The Ante-Nicene Western Fathers 5: The Life and Theology of Eusebius 2 (260-340)
- The Rise and Development of Patristic Theology 1: Christian Doctrine as a System and Praxis
- The Rise and Development of Patristic Theology 2: The Biblical Scholarship of the Early Fathers
- The Rise and Development of Patristic Theology 3: Distinctives of East and West
- The Trinitarian Controversy 1: The Rise of Monarchianism and Arianism
- The Trinitarian Controversy 2: The Council of Nicaea – The Controversy over Arianism (325 AD)
- The Trinitarian Controversy 3: The Council of Nicaea – The Eternal Generation of the Son of God
- The Trinitarian Controversy 4: The Debates from Nicaea to Constantinople (325-380 AD)
- The Life and Theology of Athanasius 1: The Theologian (297-373)
- The Life and Theology of Athanasius 2: The Apologist
- The Imperial Theology of Christian Empire 1: Constantine the Great (272-337)
- The Imperial Theology of Christian Empire 2: Theodosius the Great (347-395)
- The Life and Theology of Ephrem the Syrian (306-373)
- The Life and Theology of Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386)
- The Cappadocian Fathers 1: Basil of Caesarea (330-380)
- The Cappadocian Fathers 2: Gregory of Nazianzus (330-390)
- The Cappadocian Fathers 3: Gregory of Nyssa (335-395)
- The Post-Nicene Fathers of the West 1: Hilary of Poitiers (310-367)
- The Post-Nicene Fathers of the West 2: Ambrose of Milan (340-397)
- The Post-Nicene Fathers of the East 1: Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
- The Post-Nicene Fathers of the East 2: Dydimus the Blind (313-398)
- The Post-Nicene Fathers of the East 3: Epiphanius (320-403)
- The Antiochene Fathers of the East 1: The Life and Preaching of John Chrysostom (350-407)
- The Antiochene Fathers of the East 2: The Theology of John Chrysostom
- The Antiochene Fathers of the East 3: Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428)
- The Antiochene Fathers of the East 4: Theodoret of Cyrus (393-460)
- Post-Nicene Controversies 1: The Donatist Controversy
- Post-Nicene Controversies 2: Iconoclasm and Idolatry
- Post-Nicene Controversies 3: The Rise of the Roman Papacy
- The Development and Theology of Monasticism 1: From the Early Church to Anthony
- The Development and Theology of Monasticism 2: From the Anthony to Benedict of Nursia
- The Pelagian Controversy 1: The History of the Debate
- The Pelagian Controversy 2: The Theology of Sin and Grace
- The Life and Theology of Jerome (347-420)
- The Life and Theology of Prudentius (350-420)
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 1: Life and Influence (354-430)
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 2: The Confessions
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 3: The Enchiridion
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 4: On Christian Doctrine
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 5: Writings on Grace
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 6: The City of God
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 7: Biblical Expositions
- The Life and Theology of Augustine 8: Treatise on the Trinity
- The Students of Augustine 1: Salvian
- The Students of Augustine 2: Paulus Orosius
- The Christological Controversy 1: The Rise of Apollinarianism and Nestorianism
- The Christological Controversy 2: The Council of Ephesus (431 AD)
- The Christological Controversy 3: The Rise of Eutychianism to the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)
- The Christological Controversy 4: The Theology of Chalcedon (451 AD)
- The Christological Controversy 5: The Monophysite and Monothelete Sects
- The Theology of the Ecumenical Councils 1: Controversies
- The Theology of the Ecumenical Councils 2: Doctrinal Formulations
- The Synthesis of Patristic Thought 3: The Theology of Leo the Great (400-461)
- The Synthesis of Patristic Thought 4: The Life and Theology of Boethius (477-525)
II. THE THEOLOGY OF THE MIDDLE AGES
- Historical and Theological Introduction to the Middle Ages 1: Historical Overview
- Historical and Theological Introduction to the Middle Ages 2: Theological Contours
- Justinian and the Theology of Christian Empire 1: The Reign of Justinian (482-565)
- Justinian and the Theology of Christian Empire 2: The Justinian Code
- Gregory the Great and the Western Synthesis (540-604)
- Isidore of Seville and the Western Synthesis (560-636)
- Venerable Bede and the Western Synthesis (670-735)
- The Rise of Eastern Orthodoxy and Byzantine Theology
- The Early Byzantine Theologians 1: Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (450-510)
- The Early Byzantine Theologians 2: Leontius of Byzantium (485-543)
- The Early Byzantine Theologians 3: Maximus the Confessor (580-662)
- The Early Byzantine Theologians 4: John of Damascus (675-750)
- The Early Byzantine Theologians 5: Simeon the New Theologian (950-1022)
- The Carolingian Renaissance 1: Charlemagne’s life and influence (748-814)
- The Carolingian Renaissance 2: Charlemagne’s court and scholars
- Early Medieval Theology in the West 1: Alcuin of York (735-804)
- Early Medieval Theology in the West 2: Claudius of Turin (760-827)
- Early Medieval Theology in the West 3: Agobard of Lyon (780-840)
- Early Medieval Theology in the West 4: Gottschalk of Orbais (808-868)
- Early Medieval Theology in the West 5: John Scotus Erigena (815-877)
- Early Medieval Conflicts 1: On God – The Predestination Controversy
- Early Medieval Conflicts 2: On Christ – The Adoptionist Controversy
- Early Medieval Conflicts 3: On the Church – The Eucharistic Controversy
- Early Medieval Conflicts 4: On Worship – The Iconoclastic Controversy
- The Signs of Apostasy in Early Medieval Theology 1: The Downgrade of Scriptural Authority
- The Signs of Apostasy in Early Medieval Theology 2: The Rise of Papal Supremacy
- The Signs of Apostasy in Early Medieval Theology 3: The Snare of Sacramental Theology
- The Signs of Apostasy in Early Medieval Theology 4: The East-West Schism
- The Beginnings of Scholastic Theology 1: Anselm (1033-1109)
- The Beginnings of Scholastic Theology 2: Anselm
- The Beginnings of Scholastic Theology 3: Peter Abelard (1080-1142)
- The Beginnings of Scholastic Theology 4: Hugh of St.Victor (1095-1140)
- The Beginnings of Scholastic Theology 5: John of Salisbury and the School of Chartres (1110-1180)
- The Beginnings of Scholastic Theology 6: Peter Lombard (1096-1160)
- The Devotional Theology of Bernard of Clairvaux 1 (1090-1153)
- The Devotional Theology of Bernard of Clairvaux 2
- The History and Theology of the Crusades 1: The Muslim Menace (620-1100)
- The History and Theology of the Crusades 2: The Crusading Mission (1095-1300)
- Threats to Medieval Christendom 1: Roman Catholicism
- Threats to Medieval Christendom 2: Wars and Factions
- Threats to Medieval Christendom 3: Cults and Heresies (The Bogomiles, the Cathari, and the Albigenses)
- The Waldensian Movement 1: Peter Waldo (1140-1205)
- The Waldensian Movement 2: The Persecution of the Waldensians (1179-The Reformation)
- Francis and the Franciscan Movement (1180-1226)
- The University Movement and High Scholasticism
- Popular theology in the High Middle Ages
- The Scholastic Enterprise 1: Alexander of Hales (1185-1245)
- The Scholastic Enterprise 2: Bonaventure (1221-1274)
- The Scholastic Enterprise 3: Albert the Great (1200-1280)
- The Scholastic Enterprise 4: Thomas Aquinas (1225-1275)
- The Theology of Thomas Aquinas 1: The Summa Theologica
- The Theology of Thomas Aquinas 2: The Summa Contra Gentiles
- The Synthesis of Scholastic Theology 1: A Form of Apostasy
- The Synthesis of Scholastic Theology 2: A Form of Antichrist
- The Theology of Later Scholasticism 1: Duns Scotus (1266-1308)
- The Theology of Later Scholasticism 2: William of Occam (1287-1347)
- The Theology of Later Scholasticism 3: Thomas Bradwardine (1300-1349)
- Early Renaissance Theology 1 – Dante (1265-1321)
- Early Renaissance Theology 2 – Petrarch (1304-1374)
- The Breakdown of the Scholastic Synthesis 1: Nominalism
- The Breakdown of the Scholastic Synthesis 2: Conciliarism
- The Breakdown of the Scholastic Synthesis 3: the Papal Conflict
- The Roman Papacy and Antichrist 1: Papal Supremacy
- The Roman Papacy and Antichrist 2: The Roman Inquisition
- The Roman Papacy and Antichrist 3: Wars and Abominations
- Late Medieval Mysticism 1 – The Germans: Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)
- Late Medieval Mysticism 2 – The Germans: John Tauler (1300-1361)
- Late Medieval Mysticism 3 – The English: Richard Rolle (1300-1349)
- Late Medieval Mysticism 4 – The English: Walter Hilton (1340-1396)
- Late Medieval Reformers 1: The Life and Theology of John Wycliffe (1320-1384)
- Late Medieval Reformers 2: The Influence of John Wycliffe
- Late Medieval Reformers 3: William Langland a Disciple of Wycliffe (1332-1386)
- Late Medieval Reformers 4: Geoffrey Chaucer a Disciple of Wycliffe (1340-1400)
- Late Medieval Reformers 5:The Pearl Poet a Disciple of Wycliffe (135-1410)
- Late Medieval Reformers 6: The Life and Theology of Jan Hus (1372-1415)
- Late Medieval Reformers 7: The Bohemian/Hussite Wars (1419-1434)
- The Devotional Theology of the Brethren of the Common Life
- The Devotional Theology of Geert Groote (1340-1384)
- The Devotional Theology of Thomas Kempis (1380-1471)
- Forerunners of the Reformation 1: The Life and Theology of Wessel Gansfort (1419-1489)
- Forerunners of the Reformation 2: The Life and Theology of Savonarola (1452-1498)
- Catholic Theologians before the Reformation 1: Nicholas of Cusa 1401-1464)
- Catholic Theologians before the Reformation 2: Gabriel Biel (142-1495)
- Catholic Theologians before the Reformation 3: Johann von Staupitz (1460-1524)
- Catholic Theologians before the Reformation 4: Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
- Catholic Theologians before the Reformation 5: Conrad Celtes and Rudolph Agricola
III. THE THEOLOGY OF THE REFORMATION
- Historical and Theological Introduction to the Reformation, Pt.1
- Historical and Theological Introduction to the Reformation, Pt.2
- The Theology of Martin Luther 1: His Life and Influence
- The Theology of Martin Luther 2: Preaching and Teaching
- The Theology of Martin Luther 3: Early Polemics – 3 Treatises
- The Theology of Martin Luther 4: The Bondage of the Will
- The Theology of Martin Luther 5: Commentary on Galatians
- The Theology of Martin Luther 6: Luther’s Theology of the Cross
- The Theology of Huldreich Zwingli 1: The First Reformed Theologian
- The Theology of Huldreich Zwingli 2: On True Religion
- The Theology of Huldreich Zwingli 3:
- The Early Anabaptists 1: Sattler, Hoffman, Hubmaier, Hutter
- The Early Anabaptists 2: Menno Simons
- The Theology of Philip Melanchthon 1: His Life and Influence
- The Theology of Philip Melanchthon 2: Loci Communes
- The Early Reformation Debates 1: The Eucharistic Controversy
- The Early Reformation Debates 2: The Pattern of Reformed Worship
- The Theology of the Augsburg Confession
- The Theology of the Formula of Concord
- The Life and Theology of Martin Bucer
- The Life and Theology of Peter Martyr
- The Life and Theology of Henry Bullinger 1: Life and Influence
- The Life and Theology of Henry Bullinger 2: The Decades of Theology
- The Theology of John Calvin 1: Life and Influence
- The Theology of John Calvin 2: The Institutes – Part 1
- The Theology of John Calvin 3: The Institutes – Part 2
- The Theology of John Calvin 4: Theology of Preaching
- The Theology of John Calvin 5: Calvin’s Polemics
- The Theology of John Calvin 6: The Sovereignty of God
- The Theology of John Calvin 7: Calvinism as a System